Former Teacher Indicted For Sex Assaults Of Union County Students

ELIZABETH, NJ — A former Elizabeth Middle School teacher was indicted on charges with separately sexually assaulting two of his students numerous times over the course of a decade, acting Union County Prosecutor Michael A. Monahan announced Monday.

Robert Goodlin, 75, is charged with two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, four counts of second-degree sexual assault, two counts apiece of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and four counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.

The sexual assaults of the first victim occurred from 1993 into 1998, while Goodlin was working as an industrial technology teacher at Joseph Battin School No. 4 on South Broad Street in Elizabeth, according to Unit Supervisor and Assistant Prosecutor Caroline Lawlor, who is prosecuting the case.

The victim was sexually assaulted at his Elizabeth home, in the Goodlin's vehicle in Elizabeth, and multiple times at the Goodlin's cabin located in North Jersey, Lawlor said.

The sexual abuse involving the second victim took place from 2002 into 2003 in various locations in Elizabeth. Both victims were under the age of 18 for the duration of the incidents, Lawlor said.

Goodlin was arrested without incident in September 2017 and has been held on strict house arrest since.

Goodlin could face 10 to 20 years in state prison on the first-degree criminal charges and five to 10 years on the second-degree crimes.

Anyone with further information about his activities is urged to contact Special Victims Unit Detective Annie Coll at 908-965-3876.

(Image via Google Maps: Exterior of Joseph Battin School No. 4 on South Broad Street in Elizabeth)

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